Doctor Mawson perceptively describes the fear, frustration, courage, and endurance of all those involved in the battle at Arnhem as well as the surprising relationships that flourished under such stressful conditions. With great sensitivity he explores the difficulty of being a noncombatant and therefore unable to influence the events around him. His narrative discloses a growing awareness of himself, of his powers and limitations, and his swift personal development under the pressures of combat.
To start with I have to admit this is not my usual genre of book at all. But my husband loves anything to do with history and owns many books on the subject. This one caught my eye. Mainly because I was born in Holland and I am a medical professional. So I thought I'd give it a go, it's good to move away from ones comfort zone sometimes. And I am immensely glad I did. Arnhem Doctor gave me a new insight into the war, and the battle for Arnhem. It combines war strategies and effort with the medical side of things, in a human way. The descriptions are lively, and colourful. After finishing the book my admiration for the allies was reaffirmed in a new way.